bracket

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: brack=et

CIDE DICTIONARY

bracket, n. [Cf. OF. braguette codpiece, F. brayette, Sp. bragueta, also a projecting mold in architecture; dim. fr. L. bracae breeches; cf. also, OF. bracon beam, prop, support; of unknown origin. Cf. Breeches.].

•  An architectural member, plain or ornamental, projecting from a wall or pier, to support weight falling outside of the same; also, a decorative feature seeming to discharge such an office.  [1913 Webster]

  " This is the more general word. See Brace, Cantalever, Console, Corbel, Strut."  [1913 Webster]
•  A piece or combination of pieces, usually triangular in general shape, projecting from, or fastened to, a wall, or other surface, to support heavy bodies or to strengthen angles.  [1913 Webster]
•  A shot, crooked timber, resembling a knee, used as a support.  [1913 Webster]
•  The cheek or side of an ordnance carriage.  [1913 Webster]
•  One of two characters [], used to inclose a reference, explanation, or note, or a part to be excluded from a sentence, to indicate an interpolation, to rectify a mistake, or to supply an omission, and for certain other purposes; -- called also crotchet.  [1913 Webster]
•  A gas fixture or lamp holder projecting from the face of a wall, column, or the like.  [1913 Webster]
•  A figure determined by firing a projectile beyond a target and another short of it, as a basis for ascertaining the proper elevation of the piece; -- only used in the phrase, to establish a bracket. After the bracket is established shots are fired with intermediate elevations until the exact range is obtained. In the United States navy it is called fork.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Bracket light, a gas fixture or a lamp attached to a wall, column, etc.

bracket, v. t. 

•  To place within brackets; to connect by brackets; to furnish with brackets.  [1913 Webster]
•  To shoot so as to establish a bracket for (an object).  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

bracket, n. & v.
--n.
1 a right-angled or other support attached to and projecting from a vertical surface.
2 a shelf fixed with such a support to a wall.
3 each of a pair of marks ()
4 a group classified as containing similar elements or falling between given limits (income bracket).
5 Mil. the distance between two artillery shots fired either side of the target to establish range.
--v.tr. (bracketed, bracketing)
1 a couple (names etc.) with a brace. b imply a connection or equality between.
2 a enclose in brackets as parenthetic or spurious. b Math. enclose in brackets as having specific relations to what precedes or follows.
3 Mil. establish the range of (a target) by firing two preliminary shots one short of and the other beyond it.

Etymology

F braguette or Sp. bragueta codpiece, dimin. of F brague f. Prov. braga f. L braca, pl. bracae breeches

THESAURUS

bracket

accouple, accumulate, advocate, agglutinate, ally, alpenstock, amass, analyze, apply, arm, articulate, assemble, associate, athletic supporter, back, backbone, backing, band, bandeau, bearer, bind, blood, bond, bra, brace, bracer, branch, brassiere, bridge, bridge over, buttress, cane, carrier, caste, category, cement, cervix, chain, clan, clap together, class, classification, classify, collate, collect, combine, comprise, concatenate, conglobulate, conjoin, conjugate, connect, console, contrast, copulate, corbel, correlate, corset, couple, couple up, cover, crook, crutch, decline, division, double-harness, double-team, draw a parallel, embrace, encompass, equate, estate, foundation garment, fulcrum, gather, girdle, glue, grade, group, grouping, guy, guywire, head, heading, hyphenate, identify, include, inflect, interrelate, jock, jockstrap, join, kin, knot, label, lay together, league, level, link, lump together, mainstay, maintainer, mark, marry, marshal, mass, mast, match, mate, merge, mobilize, neck, order, pair, pair off, parallel, parallelize, parenthesize, parse, piece together, pigeonhole, point, position, predicament, prop, punctuate, put together, race, rank, rating, reinforce, reinforcement, reinforcer, relate, relativize, rest, resting place, rigging, roll into one, rubric, section, sept, set, shelf, shoulder, shroud, solder, span, spine, splice, sprit, staff, standing rigging, station, status, stave, stay, stick, stick together, stiffener, strain, stratum, strengthener, subdivision, subgroup, suborder, support, supporter, sustainer, take in, tape, team, team up, tie, title, unify, unite, upholder, walking stick, wed, weld, yoke

ROGET THESAURUS

bracket

Junction

VB join, unite, conjoin, connect, associate, put together, lay together, clap together, hang together, lump together, hold together, piece together, tack together, fix together, bind up together together, embody, reembody, roll into one, attach, fix, affix, saddle on, fasten, bind, secure, clinch, twist, make fast, tie, pinion, string, strap, sew, lace, tat, stitch, tack, knit, button, buckle, hitch, lash, truss, bandage, braid, splice, swathe, gird, tether, moor, picket, harness, chain, fetter, lock, latch, belay, brace, hook, grapple, leash, couple, accouple, link, yoke, bracket, marry, bridge over, span, braze, pin, nail, bolt, hasp, clasp, clamp, crimp, screw, rivet, impact, solder, set, weld together, fuse together, wedge, rabbet, mortise, miter, jam, dovetail, enchase, graft, ingraft, inosculate, entwine, intwine, interlink, interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, entangle, twine round, belay, tighten, trice up, screw up, be joined, hang together, hold together, cohere.

Connection

N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.

Duality

VB pair, couple, bracket, yoke, conduplicate, mate, span.

Support

N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.